Tag Archives: Mauritania

Last week’s coup in Mauritania by several army leaders has been denounced by Western and African nations. Neighboring Algeria even refused to meet with representatives of General Aziz and made clear it expected restoration of the government that was over thrown in a bloodless coup. Ousted president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi had been the first person who was elected to office of president in West Africa without resort to violence or fraud. The coup leaders insist there had been fraud but the EU has made clear the election was honest and it is about time democracy ruled in west Africa.

Many political parties in Mauritania support the ousted president and have refused to cooperate with coup leaders. In a sense, the issue is not whether the ousted president had the best ideas, but he established a new principle that is so vital to the health of any democratic society– the rule of law requires those who gain a majority to assume office.

The remarkable success of the European Union over the past few decades has resulted in hope among Africans for an opportunity to participate in the rise in wealth. Each year thousands of immigrants from Africa make the perilous voyage across the Mediterranean in search of the dream of a new life. Last week, there was a coup in Mauritania when members of the military threw out the president and took power. Spanish authorities immediately made note of a sharp rise in the number of immigrants from Mauritania seeking to migrate to their land. Within a week after the coup, authorities intercepted at least 333 people who fled Mauritania in hope they can find work and a decent life in Spain.

The usual route for migrants from Mauritania is heading toward the Canary Islands and then finding a way to get to Spain. Another route is across the Sahara Desert which has resulted in the death of untold numbers who never complete the journey.

Thousands will continue to flee until nations of the world focus on economic development in African nations. Violence invariably leads to flight as witness over a million Zimbabweans who have fled to South Africa. It is time for economic programs that produce jobs in Africa.